3 Reasons WWE's John Cena Won't Turn Heel

There's an expression in the wrestling world: "Fans are the ultimate bookers." And as much as that sounds like "the customer is always right" (which is often wrong), perhaps the most endearing aspect of the sport is the exchanges between fans and performers, and what that says to the guys calling the shots backstage.

Characters and storylines live and die with the crowd; it's our unspoken right as fans to influence the product.

With this in mind, John Cena becomes a problematic figure in that he's John Cena, both inside the ring and out, regardless of his reaction from a sold-out arena. He acknowledges a rift, of course, encouraging fans to voice their opinions with "Let's go, Cena" and "Cena sucks" chants, but the entire "Rise Above Hate" persona has created no small amount of animosity.

To paraphrase a friend, "Cena no-sells the crowd like he no-sells a 20-minute beating." He removes us from our understood role as ultimate bookers, as Emperors with our thumbs-ups and thumbs-downs, and the only thing we can do with our thumbs as far as he's concerned is sit on them.

I'll go out on a limb and break the divide down into long-term fans chanting, "Cena sucks!" and newer fans (not strictly women and children, if my live event experience is to be believed) chanting, "Let's go, Cena!"

I'm attempting to argue from a position of authority because I've been a fan for nearly 20 years—and I don't mean to sound condescending—but fair-weather fans or those who are new to the business (e.g. children) might not understand the privileged position between us and our drug of choice, and they might simply be content to "watch things play out" rather than participate.

No one is denying Cena's hard work and dedication to the business, but the boos are growing, my voice among them, as I fight to retain my sentimental connection to the industry. He hears us but isn't listening or is unsure of what to do.

That's why Cena's current feud is so intriguing; WWE is using Kane as a vehicle to voice our dissatisfaction as long-term fans with our inability to turn Cena the way we turned The Rock ("Rocky sucks! Rocky sucks!") or numerous other superstars over the decades.

Without evaluating the psychological impulse to turn a Boy Scout into a monster, there are those of us who want something different (S.O.S. chants at One Night Stand are still relevant), who think that Cena's been written into a corner, and the only way to write him out is a complete 180, and we're calling for action.

Realistically looking at the evidence, however, here are three reasons we'll never get our wish.

3. If It Ain't Broke...

"Super Cena" (descriptive not derogatory) is a safe bet to sell tickets and T-shirts. In the short term, there's very little financial incentive for Vince McMahon to change anything in terms of how John Cena is portrayed or promoted.

Cena and his formula (as applied to Randy Orton and Sheamus) are rocks in tough economic times. "If it ain't broke..."

The problem is, the formula is broken.

One can't perceive the incline immediately, but superhero gimmicks are traditionally limited, one-dimensional and good for a bandwagon spike in sales. But, pro wrestling is a sport that thrives on newness and innovation.

WWE's prolonged insistence on this archetype in particular is sending a message, consciously or not, that it's abandoned the inventive hallmark of its roots and is content to pump out cookie-cutter product as long as it's making money.

ESPN's Skip Bayless is a constant reminder that NFL teams who play not to lose usually do, and that statement is equally true for folks in the business of wrestling. As CM Punk said, "Vince McMahon is a millionaire who should be a billionaire."

I'll take that one step further by saying that WWE, as atrophied and stagnant as it is, has become a disposable product; these kids wearing John Cena shirts now aren't going to grow up with wrestling, they're going to grow out of it.

2. No One Is Ready to Take John Cena's Place

Part of maintaining John Cena's superhero image is protecting his unbeatable nature, to the tune of any losses he might accrue coming at the hands of interference or cheating.

Miz and Del Rio couldn't get it done last year, and it harmed their credibility beyond repair. (Cue Dave Batista saying that The Miz sucks because people off the street think they can beat him.)

Not even the white-hot CM Punk was allowed to score a clean fall over WWE's Golden Boy, and that's the case for everything in recent memory. Cena's untouchable and, in an industry where perception is reality, nobody else can draw money (with the exception of Randy Orton for the same reasons, barring his recent run against Mark Henry and Wade Barrett).

They've booked themselves against a wall.

Not only that, but in an environment where "the best" can't lose, guys who aren't winning every match aren't considered "good," and that damages the entire product.

There's no "top tier" beyond Cena and Orton. Everyone else is second-rate and thus, no one on Raw would be able step up and take his place as top babyface.

1. The Make-a-Wish Foundation

John Cena can't turn heel because too many kids are counting on him, and I don't mean that in the kayfabe sense.

Children have watched their wrestling heroes turn a thousand times before, but Cena is different.

Historically, the only turn that might have rivaled a potential Cena turn would be that of Hulk Hogan at Bash at the Beach. Even then, Hogan's tenure as a hero to the youth had long since expired, and Cena is at the height of his popularity and ability to inspire. (WCW encountered a similar issue when it turned Goldberg heel.)

Cena's partnership with Make-A-Wish and the positive lifestyle he projects is without a doubt the single most important piece of work spinning out of WWE, possibly ever, which is why even I must put my grievances aside and let John Cena be John Cena.

There's still a lot of work to be done to reinvigorate WWE, but it cannot come at his (or Make-A-Wish's) expense.

"Won't somebody think of the children?!"